Chapter Text
KEY ITEM: Waterlogged Diary
A waterlogged notebook that now sits in ruined tatters in the oceans of Terajuma. It seems its contents were never read. It seems it was left behind by someone, to be opened on a certain date. Many of the pages detail high-action, highly detailed accounts of adventures across many regions, but the final pages change in tone dramatically.
December 1st 20XX
I was wandering through the grand chasm today. I had heard there was a horrible blizzard plaguing the local town, and I wanted to see if that Pokemon was responsible for it. I expected the journey to be tough, so I brought my best team with me. I did a bunch of research on [REDACTED], and ultimately I did defeat it.
That was the easy part.
Before I could even approach the cave, I found the thing. It was menacing. It filled the air with an intense sense of terror. It was as if it was primed to kill. I’m not sure why. But, then I noticed.
I’m gonna have nightmares about this day.
There was a kid, on the brink of death, crying in the snow - about to be frozen to death by this thing. It was fucking awful, to say the least. I don’t even know how to describe the rage I felt. Who let this kid wander here?! Here, of all places?!
I dispatched the foul beast. Maybe it was just defending its territory, but I wasn’t in the mood to care. It retreated into the caves and I flew the kid far away - I knew Castellia had the best hospitals, so we headed straight there.
I just hope I was fast enough. The poor kid looked ghastly. And he wouldn’t stop crying. He also wouldn’t stop… apologising.
I did recover one thing from the kid. Some kind of cheap amulet. It looked kinda historic, but I quickly figured out it was some trashy knockoff. Maybe it’s important to him? I wanna study it a little more though. I just… have a bad feeling.
December 3rd 20XX
I thought I was mad before. I’m livid now. Turns out, the amulet was part of some disgusting ritual used in a sacrifice to [REDACTED]. I read about it in the library. Apparently, it was some lost tradition in some village near the Chasm in old Unova.
Someone had left the kid to be sacrificed.
I wanted to track whoever did it down, and give them a taste of their own medicine but… that’s up to the kid.
I’m gonna tell the kid everything. I’m gonna let him decide. God, though, the temptation to kill is rising.
December 4th 20XX
The kid hasn’t recovered yet. I’ve also had some time to calm down. I wasn’t thinkin’ before. Telling the kid everything is a bad idea. What’s a kid gonna do with that information, anyway?
I talked to the doctor, and she said that the kid was gonna be okay. Recovery was gonna be smooth enough, but they’re obviously worried about the traumatic aftermath of the event.
They asked if he had guardians or parents. I said I didn’t know. I should visit the nearby towns. I gotta be careful though, as I don’t really think I wanna return this kid to anywhere that might have left him in a place like that.
December 5th 20XX
I went back to that town. The blizzard has died down and everyone seems pretty happy about it. I figured someone there might know about the kid, but it seems not. Most people didn’t seem to react much when I asked about a missing kid.
Seems this place either doesn’t know about the kid or is trying to hide that they knew about the kid. I can’t tell which. Some people seemed kind of evasive, actually, when I asked.
I’ve decided, in any case, that it ain’t worth it. This kid deserves a better home. If he does have parents that love him and miss him, they’ll come looking for him. No kid ends up in Giant Chasm by himself though, so… I don’t wanna say I doubt it but…
They looked through the medical records for any indication of his birth. None. Seems the kid doesn’t have any official records. No name, nothing.
Either they were lost, or this hick town doesn’t fucking register their births??? I don’t fucking get it.
December 7th 20XX
The kid woke up today, but he’s been mostly silent from what I’ve heard. The damage to his body was severe, but it seems he has some legendary constitution for a kid, and it’ll all recover before long.
His mind, though… seems to have sealed off the trauma and is adjusting to everything. The kid’s barely able to get a sentence out. Can’t blame him. He gets up to eat and use the bathroom and responds sometimes to questions, but rarely chats, and keeps to himself.
Might be like this for a week or so. That’s what the doc said at least. She also said that this might be his mind trying to protect itself from the shock - I didn’t get the details but it sounded very serious. Something about the mental state being fragile and taking steps to ensure the body can keep functioning, I think?
They also said that this might end up affecting him his whole life, even if the memories are sealed.
They even said he could have PTSD. What the fuck?? He’s barely even 5!
That’s something I also learned. The kid recently turned 5. He remembered his age and some other details - and some stuff is coming back to him gradually.
I’m gonna come back next week to see how he’s getting on. For now, I wanna see if I can help in any way.
December 14h 20XX
I didn’t find much, and to be honest? I’m kinda glad. The kid’s got a second chance now. He probably had a pretty shit life before, if he ended up there.
The doc said the kid’s made a recovery, in mind and body. He’s talking and playin’ like a regular kid. He’s also quite the charmer. Seems he’s got stories and jokes!
I’m… glad. Maybe the kid’s life wasn’t all bad before, but I still think a new direction is best. The docs seemed to agree too. He’ll be happier with a new start.
One thing he never remembered was his name. So the doctors said they would let him give himself one. He said that was a big choice, so he needed a lot of time to think.
I wonder what name he’ll pick for himself?
December 15th 20XX
I went to see the kid. I asked if he was okay, and gave him some snacks under the table.
The kid has lost his memories. Some of them, at least. Doesn’t seem to remember anything that happened. He’s worried about his family but… that’s a conversation that someone more experienced in therapy and shit is gonna have with him. They’ve decided to let the orphanage take the kid, at least for now, and I think that’s for the best.
Still - the kid’s talking to everyone now! He also seems a lot brighter and more spirited, which is nice.
The kid is really eloquent for someone his age (I think he’s like, 4 or 5 - maybe 6 at most.). Told me about a lot of his favourite stories. He’s got a lot of ‘em. Says his favourites are about “big strong heroes like you.” He said I had all these big muscles like the cool heroes in the movies. He also said he was gonna look like that one day, and bragged about how he could lift waaaaay more books than the nurse. Seems the staff liked the kid’s charisma - at least!
Hah. I didn’t exactly spend years buildin’ this bod for admiration from kids, but… I never thought it’d feel nice to hear that. To think I could be someone a kid could admire?
I told him that with enough practice he could have big muscles too. His eyes lit up at that. Here I thought he looked meek and helpless, but he knows his stuff about health! I told him to just focus on his fruit and veggies for now, though. The kid’s got a long way to go before he needs to start hittin’ the weights.
When I was a kid I just wanted to stay up late and watch cartoons. What do they feed kids these days? Ambition cereal?
I really do wish I could take the kid. But he’d be happier here. I’ve got a job to do - and I ain’t bringing this kid with me to dangerous places. Besides, I ain’t good with kids. Never have been. I can be nice enough to em', but I dunno how to raise one. What if he has, like, romantic trouble later in life? Can’t exactly laugh about it over a drink, can I??
I hear the orphanage here is good. I’m sure they’ll take good care of him. I’d feel better knowin’ he was safe anyway.
I really hope this kid has a good life. I think he will. He’s gonna be adopted real soon, and he’s gonna kick ass, wherever he goes.
…I just hope the kid gets the love he needs. Because he deserves it, after everything he’s been through.
Maybe I should leave the kid a message of my own, too…
December 16th 20XX
Something came up. I gotta leave for Kalos tomorrow. I don’t wanna. I wanna stay with the kid, but it’s too dangerous to leave alone.
I went to say goodbye, and the kid seemed really sad. Took all my effort not to cry with him, but he needed someone to smile at him. He needed someone to smile, even when everything seemed sad. I hope I could give him some courage at least.
He told me something. His name.
He said he wanted to be called “Gabriel.”
Gabriel was a strong angel, chosen by God, that delivered good news and happiness to people. He also said the name sounded “strong and cool.” I don’t think the kid’s religious, seeing as he talked about God like some character in a story, but he talked with such passion it clearly left an impact on him.
He wants to be someone that can go around, make people happy, and protect people with his strength.
Well. I didn’t know what to say to that. The kid’s too smart for his own good! Gabriel is such a fitting name. He’ll wear it with pride, no doubt.
I told him that I wanted to give him something. This journal. When he’s old enough, he can read all about my adventures and then join me, if he wants. That way, I know he’ll be old enough to defend himself - not that I won’t also protect him too - from any harm I might face.
For now, though, I just told him that he could open it when he’s older, and to keep it safe until then. He seemed happy enough to do that!
I said he could open it in 20 years. He said, "that's way too long, old man!" Then I acted all offended - sayin' I was only 35 myself! He said he didn't know people lived that long. Little shit! We agreed to 18 years, though, on his 23rd birthday. He said when he was 21, but being honest? The kid should enjoy those years - raise hell, get in trouble. So, ya know, 23 seems good. I'd say it's still too early to hang out with some 53-year-old has-been. (Oh damn, that's 35 but backwards, huh, I shoulda pretended I thought of that.)
I've left the kid a way to get in contact with me if he maybe wants to come with me on my adventures. Maybe that'd make him happy.
But I also hope he doesn’t wanna come with me. I hope he’s found his place in the world by then. I hope that when we next meet, it’ll be over a beer, where we can chat about our lives together.
Hey, Gabriel, if you’re reading this… keep kicking ass, alright? You owe me an arm wrestling match, and I owe you a drink!
And I hope that you’re happy.
I hope that you’re happy, no matter what.
KEY ITEM: Water-damaged note
A note accompanies the book.
“Hey. Gabriel. By the time you’re reading this, you ain’t a kid anymore right? You’re a man now. Hope you’ve had a good childhood.”
“I’m really sorry I couldn’t take ya with me. You seemed like a great kid, but my world is too dangerous. But maybe, if I’m still kickin’, you could join me for an adventure sometime?”
“There’s a lot I wanna tell ya - so if you wanna contact me, try–”
…The rest is lost.